At St. John's we have a set of values that underpin everything we do. One of our key values is Inclusivity; we welcome everyone to our school and value all equally, whatever their needs may be. To support this value, we have an Inclusion Team whose role is to ensure that all members of our school community have their individual needs met in order that we are able to nurture the potential in everyone. The Inclusion Team is made up of a range of school staff who meet regularly to review the progress of vulnerable individuals and groups. We work very hard to try to do this however, as a mainstream primary school, we recognise that for some children with very complex needs, these will be better met at a specialist school.

Inclusion Quality Mark

We are delighted to share that St. John’s CEP School has been awarded the Inclusion Quality Mark’s Centre of Excellence status, in recognition of our outstanding inclusive practice.

What is IQM?

The Inclusion Quality Mark (IQM) is the UK’s only national inclusion award specifically for schools. For over 20 years, it has recognised schools where every child’s learning, wellbeing and achievements are valued. Only a small number of schools nationwide achieve the prestigious Centre of Excellence status, making this a truly special honour for St. John’s.

What the Assessor Said

In July 2025, St. John’s underwent a full two-day assessment. The assessor described our school as:

• “A shining example of inclusive education at its best.”
• “A beautifully crafted environment, innovative curriculum, and culture of deep care and belonging where every child is truly known, challenged, and celebrated.”
• “In every classroom, corridor, and corner of the school, inclusion is lived. Children feel safe, understood, and inspired.”

Why This Matters

This achievement reflects the dedication of our staff, the support of our families and the contributions of our children. At St. John’s, inclusion is not an add-on, it is the foundation of everything we do. From our Redwood and Cedar provisions, to our creative curriculum and strong partnerships with families, we strive to ensure every child feels a sense of belonging and is empowered to flourish.

Looking Ahead

As a Centre of Excellence, St. John’s will:

• Continue to review and refine our inclusive practice every year.
• Share our expertise with other schools within our local cluster group.
• Keep striving to give every child the best possible chance to grow with confidence, compassion, and curiosity.

We are so proud of our whole school community (children, families, staff, and governors) for making St. John’s a place where everyone belongs and everyone shines.

You can read the full IQM report below.

Redwood and Cedar

We aim to provide support for pupils within their main classroom wherever possible, however we acknowledge that, for some children with significant additional needs, a more personalised and differentiated approach may be required at certain times during their education to provide the best opportunities for learning. To meet this need we have additional interventions as outlined below.

Redwood – this is a small, specialist intervention supported by 3 adults. The additional needs of the children in this group are varied but focus mainly on the areas of communication and interaction, cognition and learning and speech and language. Children follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework or the National Curriculum, both of which are highly personalised and differentiated in order to address their needs. It is our aim that children accessing the Redwood provision for their specialist interventions also maintain daily contact with their home class where they participate in certain aspects of the curriculum based on their individual needs and abilities. 

Cedar – this is a short-term Nurture Group intervention that pupils join having been assessed as suitable using the Boxall Profile. The needs of the pupils in this group fall broadly within the social, emotional and mental health category. Pupils are identified as requiring this brief intervention by their class teachers for a variety of reasons. The group is run by 2 members of staff who have undertaken training provided by the Nurture Group Network. This small group of pupils receives intensive support for up to 4 terms, retaining regular contact with their home class as appropriate, with the aim of full reintegration back into their home class from the 4^th term onwards at the very latest. 

Places in these interventions are extremely limited and are prioritised for pupils with the greatest needs as assessed by school staff in close consultation with parents. Access to these interventions follows an assessment of the child's needs within their home class after a period of in-class intervention as laid out in the Mainstream Core Standards document. For more information and contact details, please follow the link to the Inclusion Team Brochure.

Please click here to read the Accessibility Plan

Click for KENT SEND Strategy